Shipping container



Dec. 31, 1935. J; CONWAY ET 2,026,417

SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed March 19, 1954 2 Shets-S'neet 1 Dec. 31, 1935.

J. H. CONWAY ET AL SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed March 19, 1934. 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 31, 1935 PATENT OFFICE SHIPPING CONTAINERJohn H. Conway and Frederick J. Hamlin, Rockford, Ill., assignors to TheEddy Paper Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of IllinoisApplication March 19,

13 Claims.

This invention relates to shipping containers and has special referenceto containers adapted to be employed in the shipment of chicks, as, forexample, from the hatchery to the chicken raiser.

These containers have in the past generally consisted of a rectangularcontainer having a top of substantially conventional constructionprovided with a plurality of holes, to permit the admission of air intothe container. In many instances openings have been provided in the sidewalls to admit air. In this type of box, strips of wood are glued acrossthe top of the container so that the containers cannot be piled oneabove the other in a manner to completely exclude air from the top ofthe container below. The tops are normally secured to the container bytying a string or cord around the center thereof. Such a construction issubject to numerous disadvantages. For example, the containers may be sostacked as to completely exclude air from the openings in the side wallsthereof. Furthermore, even though the strips are positioned on the topof each container, the fact that the boxes may be compactly piled,considerably hampers the movement of air between the containers,particularly if the boxes are stacked in large numbers.

' Another objection to this type of container is the fact that theycannot be stacked before the top is placed upon the container withoutthe ,provision of special racks to permit the access of air to theinterior of the container.

We have, therefore, aimed to provide a generally improved shippingcontainer in which the side walls lie at an angle other than 90 withrespect to the top and bottom thereof.

35 A further object of the invention is the provision of a containerhaving improved means for spacing the containers when stacked in rows.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a container havingan improved top.

40 A still further object of the invention is the provision of ashipping container which may be manufactured at relatively small costs.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a shipping container whereinthe top can be stapled 4 in a closed position.

* Another object of the invention is the provision of a shippingcontainer having improved means for preventing the chicks from beinginjured or damaged in shipment.

Other objects and attendant advantages will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container 1934,Serial No. 716,260 1 embodying our invention showing the top in openposition to permit observation of the interior;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 4, and through acontainer showing the ventilating space between the top and thepartitions, the floor covering, and. the manner of sup- 5 porting thetop;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one corner of the container,partly in section;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a stack of containers embodying ourinvention showing the 10 manner in which the sloping side walls and thespacing legs serve to permit access of air to all of the containers of astack;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through a stack of containers showing themanner in which they l5 may be stacked without the tops, and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5 through thecontainer.

This is a continuation in part of our copending application Serial No.497,67 6, filed November 24, 1930.

The invention contemplates the provision of a shipping container forchicks, of box board or other like material, having parallelly. disposedtop and bottom portions and sloping side walls, that is, side wallslying at an angle other than 90 with respect to the top or bottom. Legsare provided on the side walls normally projecting upward at each cornerof the container. The top is adapted to be placed across the opening ofthe container between the spacing legs and is provided with flapsadapted to be secured to the legs, to hold the-top onto the containerand to lend rigidity to the whole structure. While we have described thecontainer as being particularly well adapted for the shipment of chicks,it will be understood that it may also be used for other things such asrabbits, and other small animals, as well as for fruits and vegetablesor other materials where it becomes of importance to insure adequateventilation to the contents of the container.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 6 designates the bottom ofthe shipping container which is provided with upwardly extending endwalls I and 8 and side walls 9 and II. The bottom and side walls mayadvantageously'be formed from a. single sheet of box board by suitablycutting out the corners and creasing the sheet to facilitate the bendingthereof along the proper lines. Thus the walls 1 and 8 may be formed toprovide flaps l2 and I3 on the side wall I and flaps l4 and I5 on theside wall 8. The flaps I2 and I4 are then secured to the side wall 9 bymeans of staples l6 while the flaps I3 and ii are secured to the sidewall II in the same manner. The blank is so creased and secured togetheras to result in a box-like structure in which the upper diameter is lessthan the lower diameter, that is, with the side walls sloping inwardfrom bottom to top as shown in the drawings. The blank is further out toprovide projections ll, l8, I9, 2 I, 22, 23, 24 and 25, on the upperedge of the side walls, the projections l1 and I8 being brought togetherat one upper corner of the box, the projections l9 and 2| at a secondcorner, the projections 22 and 23 at a third corner and the projections24 and 25 at the remaining corner. Each pair of projections constitutesan upwardly projecting spacing leg whereby the bottom of a verticallyadjacent box may be rested thereon as shown in Fig. 5, without theentire upper edge of the side walls 1, 8, 9 and II coming completely incontact with the bottom of the upper box. Partitions 26 and 21 arepositioned within the box ,and are provided with flanges 28, 29, 3| and32, through which the partitions are secured to the side walls of thebox by means of staples 33. The widths of the partitions 26 and 21 aresuch that the upper edges 34 thereof lie in a plane below the plane ofthe upper edge 35 of the side walls a short distance such as to permitcross-ventilation between the upper edges of the partitions and thelower surface of the top. Thus the side walls project upward above theupper edge 34 of the partitions as shown at 31 and the cover 36 restsupon the side walls, the cover having outwardly extending edgesprojecting over the side walls as shown at 38. These overhanging sideedges of the cover and the comer staples give the cover support alongsubstantially its entire periphery. Openings 39 may be provided in eachof the side walls if desired, to permit the access of air to theinterior of the container. Further openings 4| may be provided in thepartitions to permit the circulation of air through the container.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, the cover 36 of thecontainer is provided with a series of openings 42 adapted to permit thepassage of air through the top and is of such outside diameter at itswidest points as to permit it to rest upon the upper edge 34 of the sidewalls 1, 8, 9 and II. Upwardly projecting flaps 43 and 44; 45 and 46; 41and 48; and 49 and Si; are provided at each corner of the top 36 and areadapted to register with the spacing legs of the box, when the top isplaced thereon. It will be seen that contact between the flaps and thespacing legs will normally be suflicient to hold,the top on the box,since the inward slope of the side walls and spacing legs tends to pinchor hold the top downward. However, when the container is closed forshipment staples 52 may be passed through the fiaps and the adjoiningspacing legs to firmly secure the top upon the box and lend rigidity tothe container. We have also so arranged the cover that two corners ofthe same may be stapled in place and a portion of the cover swimg toopen and close the container. Thus, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the coveris scored at two lines, as shown along 53 and 54. If the flaps 43-44 and495l are stapled to the legs 22-23 and 2l-l9, the opposite edge of thecover may be swung about the scored lines 53 and 54, as shown inFigure 1. In this manner, the cover is secured firmly to the containerbut may be opened for inspection of the contents thereof. The oppositecorners of the container may also be stapled for shipping.

In the shipping of chicks, it has been common to place straw on thebottom of the box to prevent the chicks from getting their feet caughtbetween the partitions and the bottom of the container. This arrangementis objectionable because of the ease with which the straw can be movedabout, and, when the straw is moved away from the partitions, it nolonger serves its function. According to our invention, a corrugatedpaper sheet 55 is inserted in one or more compartments of the container,as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the sheet being of slightly greaterdimensions than the bottom of the compartments,

.so that, when inserted therein, edges 56, 51, and

58 will project upward along the walls. The sheet may be creased alongits edge, as shown at 59, if desired, and is so inserted that theupstanding edges will lie against the partitions of the box. This floorcovering member serves a number of purposes. Because of its relativestiffness, it is wedged firmly in place between the walls of thecompartment, and, consequently, cannot be moved by the chicks. Theupstanding edges positively prevent the feet of the chicks from becomingwedged between the partitions and the bottom of the container,regardless of how the container may be bent while being handled inshipment. Furthermore, the corrugations on the upper side of the floorcovering serve to provide surface projections which can be grasped bythe chicks so that they will not slide about and pile up in thecompartments while the container is being handled. A further function ofthe corrugations is to receive the droppings so that the chicks standingon the upper edges of the ribs will have their feet supportedpractically free of the droppings.

It'will be seen that. the present construction oifers a number of verydecided advantages over those previously known. Referring to Fig. 5, itwill be seen that because of the sloping side walls it becomesimpossible to stack a plurality of these containers in such a mannerthat air cannot pass 4:, into them through the openings in the sidewalls or the openings in the top. The sloping side walls insure that atall times there will be ample air spaces throughout the stack and ampleventilation of each container regardless of its position in the stack.It is impossible to stack a plurality of the containers so that theopenings in the side walls will be shut off.

A feature of the invention is the fact that the top lies in spacedrelation to the upper edges of the partitions, as best shown at 6| inFig. 2. It will be seen that this leaves a narrow space, usually aquarter inch is suflicient, for free intercornmunicating top ventilationacross the top of the compartments. Because of this arrange- 60 ment,the top ventilation of the container will be substantially uniform eventhough a part of the openings in the top of the container may havebecome closed off, that is, even though all of the openings in the topof one compartment are accidentally closed off, this compartment willhave substantially the same ventilation as the remaining compartmentsbecause of this open space between the top and the upper edges of thepartition. We have found that this space should be suflicient to providefree cross-ventilation along the upper surface of the top butinsufficient to permit the heads of the chicks to be passed between thetop and the partition, whereby they might become injured.

Because of he sloping side walls and the spacing legs it is possible tostack the containers without placing the tops thereon or withoutproviding special racks for the purpose. This is shown in Fig. of thedrawings. The sloping side walls provide a bottom for each containerthat is considerably larger than the top of the vertically adjacentcontainer so that the spacing legs serve to adequately space thevertically adjacent containers. The fact that the spacing legs areprovided on the walls permits the containers to be stacked in spacedrelation before the tops are positioned on the box. This is a matter ofparticular advantage inasmuch as it is necessary in most instances tohold the chicks a period of time in the container before it is closedfor shipment. During this period the chicks give off a considerablequantity of heat and it is necessary to provide more than the usualamount of ventilation to properly care for them during this period.Therefore, they may be placed in the boxes and the boxes stacked asshown in Fig. 5, without the provision of special racks for the purpose.This cannot be accomplished with the usual type of box since the meansfor spacing the boxes are positioned on the tops and it is necessary toplace the tops on the boxes before they can be stacked. Anotheradvantage of our improved construction is that the container may beshipped complete to the user who is only required to suitably fold andstaple the box.

The present shipping container provides a much more rigid structure thanthat previously known, since the top is stapled to the box at eachcorner, while in most of the prior constructions the top was secured tothe box by tying a cord completely about the container. Furthermore, thetop may be stapled to the box or container at all four corners due tothe provision of upstanding flaps on said top. These flaps are for thepurpose of making itpossible to accomplish the stapling from theexterior of the container. If the flaps on the top extended in theopposite direction, it would'be necessary to have access to the interiorof the box to perform the stapling operation.

While we have thus described and illustrated a specific embodiment ofour invention we are aware that numerous alterations and changes may bemade therein without materially departing from the spirit of theinvention and we do not wish to be limited except as required by theprior art and the scope of the appended claims in which We claim:

1. The combination, in a box board shipping container for chicks, of abottom, sloping side walls provided with a plurality of openings,spacing legs on said side walls at the corners of said container, and atop provided with a plurality of openings, said sloping side walls andsaid spacing legs preventing a plurality of containers from beingstacked to close said openings.

2. The combination in a box board shipping container, of a bottom, sidewalls having prolegs integral with said side walls at the corners ofsaid container, and a top provided with a plurality of openings adaptedto close the upper side of said container, said spacing legs serving tosupport a vertically adjacent container in 5 spaced relation to said topto permit air to pass 7 through the openings therein.

4. The combination in a box board shippingcontainer for chicks, of abottom. side walls, separate upwardly projecting spacing legs at each 10corner of said container integral with said side walls to support avertically adjacent container in spaced relation for the admission ofair therebetween from all sides, a top between said legs provided withaplurality of openings and upwardly projecting flaps registering withsaid spacing legs, and fastening means through said legs and said flapsfor securing said top to said side walls.

5. A shipping box of box-board comprising a bottom, opposed side wallsintegral with the bottom, each having upstanding projections on theupper edge thereof at each end, opposed end walls integral with thebottom each having upstanding projections on the upper edge thereof ateach end, and flaps folded against the side walls and secured thereto,the upstanding projections of the side and end walls forming upstandingcorners for the box, and a flat top insertible between the upstandingcorners and having formed 80 upstanding flaps at the corners wherebysaid upstanding corners of the box may be stapled to the top in theclosed position.

6. A shipping box of box-board comprising a bottom, opposed side wallsintegral with the bot- 85 tom sloping inwardly from bottom to top andhaving upstanding projections at the upper edges thereof at each end,opposed end walls integral with the bottom and sloping inwardly frombottom to top having upstanding projections on the upper edge thereof ateach end, and flaps folded against the side walls and secured thereto,,the upstanding projections of the side and end walls forming upstandingcorners for the box, and a flat top insertible between the upstandingcorners having formed upstanding flaps at the corners whereby saidupstanding corners of the box may be stapled to. hold the box in theclosed position.

7. The combination in a box-board shipping container for chicks, of abottom, sloping side walls on said bottom having a plurality ofopenings, upwardly projecting spacing legs on said side walls at thecorners of said container, and a top provided with a plurality ofopenings adapted to close the upper side of said container, said spacinglegs serving to support a vertically adjacent container in spacedrelation to said top and to the top edges of said side walls between thelegs thereof to permit air to pass through the openings therein andacross said top.

8. The combination in a box-board shipping container for chicks, of acontainer, a top for the container, a partition within the container 5extending from the bottom of the container through substantially thedepth of the same and separating the container into compartments, and asheet of flexiblefloor covering of greater dimension than a compartmentreplaceably inserted against the bottom of the compartment completelycovering the same and extending upward along said partition a distancesuflicient to retain the sheet in place and to prevent the access ofchicks to the junction therebetween,

said floor covering having a corrugated upper surface to provide afoothold for the chicks and to receive the droppings between thecormgations.

9. The combination in a box-board shipping container, of a bottom, sidewalls having projecting portions at the corners of said container toprovide a separate spacing leg at each comer and having a plurality ofventilating openings, 2. top between said legs having a plurality ofopenings, and a partition connecting the side walls extending upwardfrom the bottom, the upper edges thereof lying in closely spacedrelationship to the top, said spacing legs serving to support avertically adjacent container in spaced relation to said top, and saidpartition dividing the container into compartments having communicationadjacent the top.

10. The combination in a box-board shipping container for chicks, of abottom, side walls, separate upwardly projecting spacing legs on saidside walls at each corner of said container, to

support a vertically adjacent container in spaced relation for theadmission of air therebetween from all sides; and a top between saidlegs overrelation for the admission of air therebetween from all sides,a top between said legs overhanging the side walls and having supporttherefrom provided with a plurality of openings and upwardly projectingflaps registering with said legs, and fastening means through said legsand said 5 flaps for securing said top to said side walls.

12. The combination in a box-board shipping container for chicks, of abottom, side walls having a plurality of ventilating openings, upwardlyextending spacing legs on said side walls at each corner of saidcontainer to support a vertically adjacent container in spaced relation,9. top between said legs overhanging said side walls and having supporttherefrom provided with a plurality of openings, and partitions betweensaid side walls, the lower edge thereof resting against said bottom andthe upper edge thereof resting in spaced relation to said top, wherebyto provide cross-ventilation between the compartments formed by saidpartition.

13. The combination in a shipping container of a box having a bottom,opposed side walls sloping inwardly from bottom to top and provided witha plurality of ventilation openings intermediate the side edges, theside walls of the box each being recessed along the upper edgeintermediate the ends to provide upstanding corners at each corner ofthe boxfor contact with the bottom of a like box positioned thereabove,and a perforate top interposed between the upstanding comers providedwith upstanding tabs in registration with the corners for staplingthereto to secure the top in place.

JOHN H. CONWAY. FREDERICK J. HAMLIN;

